Omishima is an island in Seto Inland Sea with the population of 6,000 people. Thirteen hamlets are scattered along the coast and the island is covered with orange orchards. A very well-known Oyamazumi Shrine dedicated to the God of Mountains, sits in the centre of the island guarding its beautiful scenery.

Toyo Ito’s Museum of Architecture, Imabari opened among the orange orchards of Omishima in 2011. Rapid declining birth rate and an aging population resulted in the decreasing of orange orchards. The approaching path to the shrine, the “Sando” has also become desolate.

The GSD Studio in Tokyo sets the following themes.1. Planning small architectural projects at vacant lots along the “Sando” and consider the landscape of Sando for its revival.2. Transforming the deserted orange orchards into a wine yards and designing winery and Auberge (restaurant with small accommodation facility), that is integrated with the landscape.

Studio Logistics:– The studio will take place at Ito Juku Ebisu Studio. An excursion to Omishima for three days will be held in the very first week for research and discussion.– The esquisse will be held twice a week, on Tuesday afternoons (14:00 – 17:00) and Friday mornings (9:30 – 12:00).– The lecturers are Toyo Ito (once a week) and Jun Yanagisawa (twice a week) with Julia Li from Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects as a teaching assistant.